Telephone-talking doll simulator

ABSTRACT

Talking doll holds a first simulated telephone handset camouflaging a switch for actuating a phonograph in the doll. A second simulated handset includes a switch actuator and is connected to the first simulated handset and the switch in the doll, whereby phonograph may be actuated by manipulating second simulated handset.

United States Patent Beasley et al. 1 Nov. 14, 1972 [54] TELEPHONE-TALKING DOLL 3,239,229 3/1966 Freeman et a1. ..46/232 X SIMULATOR 3,422,566 1/1969 Wolf ..46/33 Inventors: F. y, Santa Monica; Wever, La Canada, both of Calif.

PnmmyExaminer-Lours G. Mancene [73] Assrgnee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif. Assistant Examiner RObl-t Cutting 22 Filed; Jan. 3 972 Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick [21] App]. No.: 214,802 Talking doll holds a first simulated telephone handset [52] U.S. Cl. ..46/232, 46/175 AR camouflaging a switch for acuafing a phonograph in [51 113C. Cl. ..A63h the do. A second simulated handset includes a switch of ..46/33, 1 l7, AR, actuator and is connected to the fi simulated handset and the switch in the doll, whereby phonograph [56] References Cited may be actuated by manipulating second simulated UNITED STATES PATENTS handset- 1,65l,508 12/1927 Bocchino ..46/33 12 Chins, 4 Drawing Figures TELEPHONE-TALKING DOLL SIMULATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

1. Field of the Invention The invention pertains generally to the field of animated figure toys and more particularly to a telephonetalking doll simulator.

2. Description of the Prior Art Figure toys and simulated telephones having phonograph devices incorporated therein are known to applicants.

However, applicants are not aware of any prior art telephone-talking doll simulators.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful telephone-talking doll simulator.

According to the present invention, a figure toy is provided with a sound producing device which may be actuated by switch means including a first simulated telephone handset placed on the figure toy, a second simulated telephone handset including means for actuating the switch means on the figure toy and means connecting the switch actuating means on the second handset to the switch on the figure toy, whereby the sound producing device in the figure toy may be actuated from a location spaced from the figure toy by a user of the second handset in simulation of a telephone call from the user of the second handset to the figure toy.

The sound producing device is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising a battery operated phonograph having an electrical switch concealed in the hand of the figure toy.

This switch is closed by the expansion of a bellows which is operated by an air tube extending from the first simulated handset, which may be attached to the hand of the figure toy. The air tube extends to' the second simulated handset which comprises an air pump so that the bellows in the figure toys hand may be expanded by squeezing the second handset.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a telephone-talking doll of the present invention and a child-user carrying on a simulated conversation with the doll through a simulated childs telephone;

FIG. 2 is an exploded plan view, with parts removed to show internal construction, of the childs telephone and the doll s telephone of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded elevational view of the doll of FIG. 1 with parts broken away to show internal construction and FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a telephone-talking doll simulator constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes a figure toy 12 having a sound producing device 14 (FIG. 3) incorporated therein. A simulated telephone system 16 is shown in combination with figure toy 12 and includes a simulated doll's telephone 18 and a simulated childusers telephone 20. Telephone 18 includes a simulated handset 22 connected to a switch in figure toy 12 for actuating phonograph 14 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The child-user's simulated telephone 20 includes a handset 24 which includes means to be hereinafter described for actuating the phonograph switch in figure toy l2 and is connected to handset 22 by suitable means, such as an air hose or conduit 26 for connecting the switch-actuating means in handset 24 to the switch in figure toy 12, whereby the sound producing device 14 may be actuated by a child-user 28 from a location spaced from figure toy 12.

Referring now to FIG. 3, sound producing device 14 may comprise a phonograph of the type more fully disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,475,856 and includes an electric switch 30 having a movable contact 32 which is moved away from a fixed contact 34 by a tone arm 36 engaging contact 32 at the end-of-play of each recording reproduced by sound producing device 14. Fixed contact 34 is connected to a dry cell 38 by a lead 40 and movable contact 32 is connected to an electric motor 42 by a lead 44, whereby battery 38 will supply electric current to motor 42 when contacts 32, 34 are closed. These contacts close automatically as soon as tone arm 36 is moved away from engagement with contact 32. This is done automatically by the means described in US. Pat. No. 3,475,856 when an overriding circuit is closed from battery 38 to motor 42. Such a circuit is closed in the telephone-talking doll simulator 10 by the simulated telephone system 16 through a first lead 46, which is connected to fixed contact 34 and extends into the lefi arm 48 of figure toy 12 where an end 50 is connected to a movable contact 52, and by a second lead 54 which also extends into arm 48 where an end 56 is connected to a combined fixed-movable contact 58 having a fixed portion 60 and a movable portion 62. Movable contact 52 may be moved to its FIG. 3 broken-line position where it engages fixed contact 60 by expanding an air bellows 64 having contact 52 affixed to one end 66 thereof by a metal cap 68.

Bellows 64 includes another end 70 having an air inlet-outlet orifice 72 (FIG. 4) afiixed in an opening 74 provided in the palm portion 76 of a hand 78 formed on arm 48.

Alternatively, the movable portion 62 of contact 58 may be moved into engagement with contact 52 by depressing button 80 (FIG. 4) mounted in arm 48.

Air may be supplied to bellows 64 through conduit 26 having a first end 82 seated in a fitting 84 adapted to be engaged in orifice 72. End 82 of conduit 26 and fitting 84 are concealed by handset 22 and hand 78, thereby camouflaging the real purpose of handset 22 which actually forms part of the means connecting a switch-actuating means (forming part of handset 24) to the overriding circuit in figure toy 12.

Handset 24 (FIG. 2) is shown herein for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as comprising switch actuating means in the form of an air pump having an inlet-outlet orifice 86'connected to the second end 88 of conduit 26 for transmitting air to, and receiving air from, bellows 64. Handset 24 may be molded from a suitable plastic material, such as a vinyl compound, and includes a second handle portion 90 which may be squeezed by child-user 28 to supply air under pressure to bellows 64. When handle 90 is released, air from bellows 64 is drawn back into handset 24 returning bellows 64 to its FIG. 3 position where contact 52 is out of engagement with contact 60.

Telephone 18 includes a base portion 92 through which conduit 26 is threaded as shown in FIG. 2 and telephone 20 includes a base portion 94 having a bottom wall 96 on the under side 98 of which is provided an L-shaped groove 100 receiving conduit 26. Thus, child-user 28 may connect telephone base 94 to conduit 26 by merelypressing conduit 26 into groove 100.

Telephone 20 may be provided with a simulated dial 102 which may be molded integrally with base 94 from the same material used to mold handset 24, if desired.

Handset 22 may be molded from a fairly rigid plastic material in two halves 104, 106 (FIG. 4) which may be connected together to trap conduit 26 therebetween by means of the connectors shown at 108, 110.

In use, it may be assumed that sound producing device 14 has just finished playing and that tone arm 36 has opened contact 32 de-energizing motor 42. Childuser 28 may then squeeze handset 24 forcing air under pressure into bellows 64 causing it to expand bringing movable contact 52 into engagement with fixed contact 60 thereby completing a circuit through leads 46 and 54 to motor 42 which, through means described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,856, moves tone arm 36 away from movable contact 32 permitting switch 30 to close so that sound producing device 14 will remain in operation after child-user 28 releases handset 24.

Sound producing device 14 will then continue in operation until tone arm 36 finishes playing a message and engages movable contacts 32 moving it out of engagement with fixed contact 34.

While the particular telephone-talking doll simulator herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims, which form a part of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a figure toy of the type having a sound producing device incorporated therein, a simulated telephone system, comprising:

switch means for energizing said sound producing device, said switch means including a first simulated telephone handset;

a second simulated telephone handset including means for actuating said switch means; and

means connecting said switch actuating means on said second simulated handset to said switch means, whereby said sound producing device may be actuated from a location spaced from said figure toy by a user of said second handset in simulation of a telephone call from said user to said figure toy.

2. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein said switch means is mounted on said figure toy and includes a movable element and an expandable member connected to said movable element for moving it upon expansion of said expandable member and wherein said means for actuating said switch means includes means in said second simulated handset for expanding said expandable member.

3. A combination as stated in claim 2 wherein said expandable member comprises an air bellows and said actuating means comprises an air pump.

4. A combination as stated in claim 3 wherein said air pump is actuated by collapsing said second simulated handset.

5. A combination as stated in claim 4 including conduit means connecting said second simulated handset to said first simulated handset for transmitting air under pressure to said air bellows.

6. A combination as stated in claim 5 wherein said figure toy includes a hand in which said bellows is located and wherein said first simulated handset is connected to said hand in fluid communication with said bellows.

7. A combination as stated in claim 6 wherein said sound producing device is a battery-operated phonograph and said switch means is connected to said phonograph by an overriding electrical circuit.

8. A telephone-talking figure toy simulator comprismg:

a figure toy having a phonograph device incorporated therein;

switch means on said figure toy for energizing said phonograph device, said switch means including a first simulated telephone handset;

a second simulated telephone handset including means for actuating said switch means; and

means connecting said switch actuating means on said second handset to said switch means on said first handset, whereby said phonograph device may be actuated from a location spaced from said figure toy by a user of said second handset in simulation of a telephone call from said user to said figure toy.

9. A telephone-talking figure toy simulator as stated in claim 8 wherein said switch means includes a movable element and an air-expandable bellows connected to said movable element and wherein said second simulated handset comprises an air pump for supplying air under pressure to said bellows.

10. A telephone-talking doll simulator comprising: a doll having at least one hand and an electric phonograph device incorporated in said doll; switch means in said at least one hand for energizing said phonograph device; a first simulated telephone handset; means connecting said first handset to said switch means; a second simulated telephone handset including means for actuating said switch means; and means connecting said second handset to said first handset, whereby said phonograph device may be actuated from a location spaced from said doll by a handset, whereby said phonograph may be actu-- ated from a remote location by a user of said second handset in simulation of a telephone call from said user to said doll.

12. In combination with a doll having a hand, an arm and an electrical phonograph, a simulated telephone system, comprising:

an electrical switch mounted in said arm, said switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact;

electrical leads connecting said contacts to said phonograph for energizing said phonograph when said contacts are closed;

an air bellows mounted in said hand adjacent said movable contact for moving said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact when said bellows is expanded;

a first simulated telephone handset mounted in said hand in fluid communication with said bellows;

a second simulated telephone handset adapted for use by a child-user of said simulated telephone system, said second simulated handset being a collapsible air pump having an air outlet through which air under pressure may pass when said childuser squeezes said second handset; and

conduit means connecting said air outlet on said second handset to said first handset in fluid communication with said bellows, whereby said phonograph may be energized by squeezing said second handset to simulate a telephone call from said child-user to said doll. 

1. In combination with a figure toy of the type having a sound producing device incorporated therein, a simulated telephone system, comprising: switch means for energizing said sound producing device, said switch means including a first simulated telephone handset; a second simulated telephone handset including means for actuating said switch means; and means connecting said switch actuating means on said second simulated handset to said switch means, whereby said sound producing device may be actuated from a location spaced from said figure toy by a user of said second handset in simulation of a telephone call from said user to said figure toy.
 2. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein said switch means is mounted on said figure toy and includes a movable element and an expandable member connected to said movable element for moving it upon expansion of said expandable member and wherein said means for actuating said switch means includes means in said second simulated handset for expanding said expandable member.
 3. A combination as stated in claim 2 wherein said expandable member comprises an air bellows and said actuating means comprises an air pump.
 4. A combination as stated in claim 3 wherein said air pump is actuated by collapsing said second simulated handset.
 5. A combination as stated in claim 4 including conduit means connecting said second simulated handset to said first simulated handset for transmitting air under pressure to said air bellows.
 6. A combination as stated in claim 5 wherein said figure toy includes a hand in which said bellows is located and wherein said first simulated handset is connected to said hand in fluid communication with said bellows.
 7. A combination as stated in claim 6 wherein said sound producing device is a battery-operated phonograph and said switch means is connected to said phonograph by an overriding electrical circuit.
 8. A telephone-talking figure toy simulator comprising: a figure toy having a phonograph device incorporated Therein; switch means on said figure toy for energizing said phonograph device, said switch means including a first simulated telephone handset; a second simulated telephone handset including means for actuating said switch means; and means connecting said switch actuating means on said second handset to said switch means on said first handset, whereby said phonograph device may be actuated from a location spaced from said figure toy by a user of said second handset in simulation of a telephone call from said user to said figure toy.
 9. A telephone-talking figure toy simulator as stated in claim 8 wherein said switch means includes a movable element and an air-expandable bellows connected to said movable element and wherein said second simulated handset comprises an air pump for supplying air under pressure to said bellows.
 10. A telephone-talking doll simulator comprising: a doll having at least one hand and an electric phonograph device incorporated in said doll; switch means in said at least one hand for energizing said phonograph device; a first simulated telephone handset; means connecting said first handset to said switch means; a second simulated telephone handset including means for actuating said switch means; and means connecting said second handset to said first handset, whereby said phonograph device may be actuated from a location spaced from said doll by a user of said second handset in simulation of a telephone call from said user to said doll.
 11. A telephone-talking doll simulator, comprising: a doll having an arm and a hand; a phonograph mounted in said doll; switch means mounted in said arm; electrical leads connecting said switch means to said phonograph; a movable switch-closing device mounted in said hand for closing said switch means; a first simulated telephone hand set mounted in said hand; a second simulated telephone handset including means for moving said switch-closing device; and means connecting said second handset to said first handset, whereby said phonograph may be actuated from a remote location by a user of said second handset in simulation of a telephone call from said user to said doll.
 12. In combination with a doll having a hand, an arm and an electrical phonograph, a simulated telephone system, comprising: an electrical switch mounted in said arm, said switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact; electrical leads connecting said contacts to said phonograph for energizing said phonograph when said contacts are closed; an air bellows mounted in said hand adjacent said movable contact for moving said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact when said bellows is expanded; a first simulated telephone handset mounted in said hand in fluid communication with said bellows; a second simulated telephone handset adapted for use by a child-user of said simulated telephone system, said second simulated handset being a collapsible air pump having an air outlet through which air under pressure may pass when said child-user squeezes said second handset; and conduit means connecting said air outlet on said second handset to said first handset in fluid communication with said bellows, whereby said phonograph may be energized by squeezing said second handset to simulate a telephone call from said child-user to said doll. 